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11 stunning images of rainbows and their less-famous cousins

The colors of the rainbow

At the same time, a rainbow truly is an individual experience. We see rainbows because the sun is behind us, reflecting sunlight off the rain, waterfall, mist, dew, or even a water fountain that is before us. But everyone sees their own individual rainbow according to their particular angle, light, and how their eyes interpret color. Combined, colors look white. Refracted, they are broken up into the blues, reds, and oranges we know. Double, or secondary, rainbows form when a beam of light is refracted twice.

The colors of the rainbow

At the same time, a rainbow truly is an individual experience. We see rainbows because the sun is behind us, reflecting sunlight off the rain, waterfall, mist, dew, or even a water fountain that is before us. But everyone sees their own individual rainbow according to their particular angle, light, and how their eyes interpret color. Combined, colors look white. Refracted, they are broken up into the blues, reds, and oranges we know. Double, or secondary, rainbows form when a beam of light is refracted twice.